Planned Ashby car park charge increases scrapped by council after feedback from residents and businesses
North West Leicestershire District Council (NWLDC) has announced that it has ended a review into car parking charges - after proposals made which would have had an effect on motorists coming into Ashby town centre.
The council announced today (Friday) that parking charges will stay the same, following feedback from local residents and businesses.
But it added that, with a predicted gap in the budget from next year, work must now be done to balance the budget 'in alternative ways'.
The review of the council's car parking facilities and charges aimed to reduce the amount of subsidy the council currently pays towards the running costs of its car parks.
However, the council says feedback from local people, businesses and partners has led NWLDC to decide to keep parking charges as they are.
The review launched with a public survey in May 2024, which received nearly 4,500 responses.
North West Leicestershire District Council began its review of car parking in the district against what it described as a backdrop of increasing financial pressure and the need to make significant savings.
Due to concerns raised, plans were paused in February, and now a decision has been reached.
Town councillor, Kenny Horn, told Ashby Nub News: "I personally put a lot of time and energy into this to find a workable outcome for the people of Ashby and therefore I'm delighted with this outcome.
"Thank you to all the people who provided feedback."
Among the suggested changes in and around Ashby were:
- Charges increased in Ashby to be in line with similar charges in neighbouring district and borough councils
- Two hours' free parking in all council car parks across the district - except Ashby - with charges applied after this
- North Street and South Street car parks in Ashby changed to become short-stay
- A new long-stay car park at Money Hill in Ashby, including an electric vehicle charging hub, which is to open this summer.
But the council then promised to consult key Ashby organisations before any changes were made.
However, it adds that plans for the opening of Money Hill car park in Ashby are separate from this review.
The charges for Money Hill will mirror those of the long stay car parks in Ashby town centre, says NWLDC.
The council says that running costs for the district council's car parks outweigh the income generated through parking tickets, and the parking service has been subsidised by the council in recent years.
Councillor Michael Wyatt, Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Communities and Climate Change at NWLDC said: "Throughout the course of the car parking review, we've reflected on what people have told us.
"Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to respond to our survey or get in touch with us separately about the future of our car parks.
"We have also had a lot of engagement with partners and businesses in the district, who are understandably concerned about the current economic climate and ongoing pressures on the high street.
"We recognise that it's a tough time for our town centres. Whilst we do need to balance the running costs of our car parks, we also understand that they must be priced competitively to encourage people to continue to visit and work in our town centres.
"Therefore, we've decided that our car parking fees and charges will remain as they are for the foreseeable future."
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